story + art = great stART – Drum Roll Please

August 18, 2010

Remember a couple of weeks ago we did some Loo Roll Watches (these were hugely popular, so if you didn’t see them, do check them out!) after reading Piep Piep Piep? Well, the other day we were looking at that book again and came across this page – “The Drum goes…” (scroll down for another book on Drums!)

Red Ted JUMPED up and ran over to our dining room table (were we paint) asking for a drum! I was stumped. On the one hand I love, how he now associates books with crafts. Hurray for stART projects. On the other hand… expectations are begin to build… How to make?!

I thought of a mini Loo Roll drum. But drums are for noise. So I parked that idea whilst I pondered…

RED TED ART TV

Until… I remembered our formula tins (yes, sorry, we are formula household from around 4-5mths old). But you can do these with an old paint can or anything tin shaped with or with out lid, so long as it has no serrated edges!

The first one – I gave Red Ted completely free reign – result a little brown.

The second one (spot the hair cut!) – I did a base colour (white), then added masking tape triangles. Then gave Red Ted free reign with TWO colours. Blue & Green (& some white). We then pulled the masking tape off (some of the white paint underneath peeled a little, so we re-touched it).

I have learnt that with 2.5yrs olds, if you give them ALL the primary colours you usually end with brown. So, do give them freedom, but with max. 2 primary colours and then it usually works!

Even the neighbours 8yrs old had a go, which of course made it much more interesting again for Red Ted. Pip Squeak also had fun. The 8 yrs old was very good and “discovered” the different sounds you could make by hitting the edges, drumming on the lid versus the bottom etc… so we have a proper little instrument!

Needless to say, you don’t need to get crafty to have drums at home – pots, pans, tupperware are all marvellous percussion instruments!

As this is a story + art project, I did want to explore other books on “Drums” with Red Ted. So on searching a little we found this:

I thought that this was a great little book. I love folktales and if you think about it the Brother’s Grimm stories all started off as folktales. I also love books and stories from around the world. There is a reason why something becomes a folktale and it is usually that there is a wonderful lesson to be learnt and that the story itself is great. This the story of a little boy who is poor but wishes for a drum! All he is given is a “magic stick”, with the help of the “magic stick” and his own personal kindness and selflessness he indeed get’s his drum in the end. The story could have been written a little better and the drawings could be a little nicer too… but that is only, because we are spoilt by all those wonderful books available today. Red Ted likes the book and so do I. So look past the “non perfectness” and engross yourself in a folktale from India! The Story Cove has other stories from around the world, which we will be checking out as well as website with lesson plans and activities, as well as previews: http://www.storycove.com/. Becoming a “member” is free.

Please don’t apologise for formula – you did what was best for your family. As a mum who was desperate to breast-feed and couldn’t for a variety of reasons, it makes me SO MAD when people smugly trot out the “breast is best” mantra. DD (who was formula fed from more or less the start) has just turned four, NEVER picks up any of the bugs at Nursery, is tall, sporty and beautiful and is also one of the brightest cookies I know (that’s not proud mama, that’s teacher talking…) whereas her friend, who was breast fed til she was one, picks up everything going as well as having developmental issues. The cliches are just that – cliches.
2 other points, made by medical people:
a) a lot of this aggressive push is to reduce medical bills (in the UK, that has an impact on our National Health Service) Don’t mind that aspect – just don’t bully me because I’m not part of it.
b) there is a disquiet growing among paediatric professionals that the “breast is best” mantra is being pushed to the point where some children’s brains are actually not developing as they should becasue they are undernourished ( this would have been the case with DD if I had persevered, and I still feel guilty about how long I took to accept it wasn’t happening for us) This was told to me by my health visitor, who gave the impression that she was flying in the face of acceptable practise – I was very grateful for her stepping out of line to do so.
Anyhow, sorry about the rant. It just really bugs me that sensible women are made to feel bad about choices they make for the children they want the absolute best for. You keep going – you’re obviously doing a FAB job!
(BTW the advice about not letting them play with knives? Yeah, don’t do that …!!!!)

Thank you “me35”! I know it is a very sensitive topic and I know I shouldn’t apologise… funny how you can’t “help yourself”. Do agree that the “Breast is Best” brigade are causing a lot of sadness and heartache for many mums, who want the best for the children and are made to feel they are not doing so if they end up opting for formula (through choice or no choice). Have seen a few friends really suffer because of this and it also makes me angry. Especially since a “happy mum” is a “better mum”. So if Bfeeding is causing problems or isn’t working for them or they just don’t want to do it, they shouldn’t be made to feel bad… anyway, you have said it all already! Thank you for taking the time to make such a long comment!!!

Really really clever. I love this. I remember making drums out of old ice cream tubs (the big round professional ones a parent must have salvaged from a local ice cream place), decorating them with all kinds of stuff which I thought was fabulous but which my parents must have looked at and cringed…

Great drums! We love drumming on the pots and pans too. It’s a great activity for keeping little hands out of trouble, when Mom is busy with making dinner, or working on a project. And, with all the noise, you never lose track of where the children are 🙂

So CUTE! Great idea to mask it off for the little ones. I laughed at “all colors lead to brown” type of comment. We have the same issue.

Off subject, but in general, I do think breast may be best. But not in all circumstances and there are plenty of very healthy people in the world raised on formula. I hate to see any mother feel bad about deciding formula or breast.

I think everyone agrees that breast is best …if it’s possible in the multi-variables all families face. What makes it a problem is when people are made to feel so bad about using formula that they have to apologise in advance.
I don’t know how it is the US, but in certainly in the UK four years ago, if you didn’t bfeed you were definely seen as a less of a mother. I remember being at an antenatal class where a paediatrician and 2 midwives harangued a woman because she dared to say she had no intention of bfeeding. To my shame, I remember thinking that she wasn’t as caring as I was because I wouldn’t even CONSIDER bottlefeeding (that level of hubris was really just wating for a fall…)
I think people still believe (and no-one medical has – dare I say – been allowed to say anything different ) that as long as you REALLY REALLY want it and try REALLY REALLY hard, you will be able to do it. I was poster-girl for that attitude – I remember being upset with the nurses in the Neo-Natal Unit because they bottlefed my starving daughter. My child went from the 98th centile in weight to under the 60th in about 3 weeks as I battled to bfeed – after DD recovered from a loss of oxygen at birth, we spent the next 6 meeks in and out of hospital trying to work out why she wasn’t putting on weight. Eventually, the doctors discovered that she had one of the worst cases of silent reflux they had seen and we began fighting our way back – and I felt utterly defeated by bfeeding. I even stopped getting new mum type magazines because I felt so sensitive about the militancy of the bfeeding brigade ( in the UK,I think formula milk cannot be advertised unless it is implied to be inferior to bfeeding – thanks guys. And no medical professional is allowed to help you choose the best formula for your needs)
I also feel that if the BisB is being push so heavily, then, certainly in the UK, the support structure needs to be improved. I tried EVERY avenue I could for help – through indiviuals, classes, internet and phone-up lines. Something that still angers me is that there was a dedicated bfeeding specialist in the hospital where DD was born. Unfortunately, she was on holiday for 3 weeks and there was nobody appropriate to cover. The last smack in the face was when I was phoned to ask if I still wanted to see the specialist 2 mo after DD’s birth…
Okay….deep breath ! I know this is my story and personal to me – but many mums who turn to bottlefeeding have their own stories, but people don’t see that, they just see “too posh too push” mums (yup. I had a c-section too) and judge on that. That’s the attitude that needs to change.
Sorry about the SECOND rant – and thank-you Maggy for your personal response ( I’m a Margaret !!) Little Wonder’s Days, this is not a personal response to your comment – I totally agree IN GENERAL, and I wanted to explain how my experiences have shaped my opinion on this I’m afraid I am jsut the type of person who can’t let a challenge go by – and yes, it does make life difficult sometimes !

Hi Margaret!! A second (and third and fourth) rant is perfectly fine with me!!! Your experience sounds very very sad and stressful. Really impacts those precious first months with a new baby and I bet it feels like there was a cloud over what should have been a blissful bubble – which is such a shame! I think the UK needs to find a decent balance between the two approaches, which it doesn’t at the moment. And more help! That is what surprised me – all that “pushing” to bfeed, with not that much support.. mmmh. But the support should be balanced and put the health of BOTH the baby and mother first. Back to my “A happy mum = is a better mum” mantra!

Maggy
PS did you know Boots isn’t allowed to give reward points on infant formula for <1yrs old due to advertising laws? And you are not allowed to use your reward points to buy it either. Or at least not at my branch!

Thank you for joining WMCIR! We often end up with brown during open painting sessions, even though my daughter is almost 4. I like how your drums turned out. And thank you for the link to Story Cove – it looks like a great place for me to use as we travel the world.

My friend, you come up with the most awesome art projects for your little ones! I’m always sooo impressed! I can see by reading a few of your comments that you are such an inspiration to many young mothers in search for creative ideas! Thank you so much! I’m so happy to have you join in with the fun of Sunday Favorites again this week!!! Love that drum!!!

Have a super Sunday, my friend!
Chari @Happy To Design

PS…I have a dear friend who is the our local public and school librarian. I am going to email your blog link to her. She does a monthly reading program for the little ones and also provides crafts, treats, etc. to coordinate with the book that she is reading! I think she will be elated to read your blog…you have so many great ideas!!!

Thanks for linking up at Feed Me Books Friday! We’ve made drums from baby cereal cans (similar to the formula size) oatmeal canisters, and our favorite is from an ice cream tub – I think its a 3 gallon plastic tub, tight fitting top, and a handle – great for marching. Also b/c the top is tight and sturdy, we store drumsticks, maracas, and whistles inside!